Blueberry plant named &#39;MG07876-15-003&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘MG07876-15-003’ is provided. ‘MG07876-15-003’ is a commercial variety intended for the fresh fruit market. The variety is produced from a cross of ‘Elliott’ and ‘Caroline’, which can be distinguished by its outstanding features.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/762,826 filed on May 22, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as though fully set forth.

Latin name of the genus and species: Genus—Vaccinium. Species—hybrid.

Variety denomination:

The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘MG07876-15-003’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The proposed new variety ‘MG07876-15-003’ was selected as a seedling from a controlled pollination involving northern highbush varieties ‘Elliott’ (seed parent) (not patented) and ‘Caroline’ (pollen parent) (not patented). The cross was made in 2007 in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia and the plant was selected in 2011 amongst a population of seedlings from the cross grown in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. This new cultivar has been asexually propagated through cuttings since 2011 and grown in replicated field trials from 2014 in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia.

The plants of the proposed new variety ‘MG07876-15-003’ are strong and vigorous and self-fertile while the berries are large and firm with a moderate to good bloom, sweet flavor and a small dry scar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The proposed new Vaccinium hybrid cultivar denominated ‘MG07876-15-003’ resulted from a cross between ‘Elliott’ and ‘Caroline’.

The seed parent was produced by ‘Burlington’ and ‘US1’ and was selected based on its vigor, late fruit ripening, high yields and medium sized, frim berries with a strong flavor and bloom.

The pollen parent was produced from open pollinated ‘Lateblue’ seeds sent to the Knoxfield Horticultural Research Institute in Victoria, Australia in 1976, and was selected based on its medium timing of fruit ripening, strong aromatic flavor, medium firmness and moderate bush vigor.

The proposed new variety ‘MG07876-15-003’ is a selection from seedlings produced from a controlled pollination between ‘Elliott’ and ‘Caroline’ in the breeding program at Moondarra, Victoria, Australia in 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the proposed new variety by cutting propagation has occurred since 2011 at Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. This has demonstrated that the new variety is uniform, stable and true to type over successive generations of asexual propagation in respect to the characteristics aforementioned.

The proposed new cultivar ‘MG07876-15-003’ was selected as a single plant in a population of seedlings resulting from a cross between the two northern highbush varieties previously described, selected in 2011 at Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. The selection was based upon its late period of fruit ripening, strong plant vigor and large, firm fruit with a moderate to good bloom, sweet flavor and small dry picking scar. The new cultivar was given the breeder code ‘5P-15-3’ and evaluated in trials from 2014 to be later denominated ‘MG07876-15-003’.

The following characteristics of the proposed new variety have been observed and used to distinguish ‘MG07876-15-003’ as a distinct cultivar of Vaccinium hybrid:

-   -   Round-upright/whippy growth habit.     -   Late timing of flowering.     -   Very late timing of fruit ripening.     -   Strong plant vigor.     -   Large berry size.     -   Small, dry picking scar     -   Berry firmness is firm.

The new variety differs from the seed parent ‘Elliott’ as previously described in terms of having later timing of fruit ripening and larger berry size. ‘MG07876-15-003’ differs from pollen parent ‘Caroline’ in respect to its later fruit ripening, firmer berries, larger berry size and stronger vigor. The proposed new variety ‘MG07876-15-003’ is uniform, stable and true to type over successive generations of asexual propagation through softwood cuttings in respect to the characteristics aforementioned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘MG07876-15-003.’ The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘MG07876-15-003’, demonstrating the plant's upright growth habit.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety ‘MG07876-15-003’.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety ‘MG07876-15-003’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new blueberry.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘MG07876-15-003’. The data which defines these characteristics was collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. The plant history was taken on plants approximately 3 years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. Color designations are from Panton Color Bridge plus.

-   Classification:     -   -   a. Family.—Ericaceae.         -   b. Genus.—Vaccinium.         -   c. Species.—hybrid.         -   d. Common name.—Blueberry. -   Parentage: Female Parent — ‘Elliott’ (not patented). Male Parent —     ‘Caroline’ (not patented). -   Market Class: A fruiting plant intended for the fresh fruit market.

PLANT

-   General:     -   -   a. Parentage.—‘Elliott’ x ‘Caroline’.         -   b. Plant height.—0.9-1.2 m.         -   c. Plant width.—0.7-0.8 m.         -   d. Growth habit.—Upright/whippy.         -   e. Growth.—Strong to very strong.         -   f. Productivity.—Medium to high (−6.6 kg/plant).         -   g. Cold hardiness.—Not tested, expected to be high.         -   h. Cold tolerance.—Not tested, expected to be high.         -   i. Chilling.—requirement High.         -   j. Tolerance to disease.—Not tested.         -   k. Leafing.—Strong to very strong.         -   l. Twigginess.—Moderate.

STEM

-   General:     -   -   a. Suckering tendency.—7-8/plant.         -   b. Mature cane color.—165A/161D-164C.         -   c. Mature cane length.—0.9 m.         -   d. Mature cane width.—1.1 cm.         -   e. Bark texture.—Medium roughness.         -   f. Fall color on new shoots.—N/A.         -   g. Surface texture of new wood.—Smooth.         -   h. Internode length on strong, new shoots.—20 mm.         -   i. Fruiting wood.—Up to 18 cm in length.

FOLIAGE

-   General:     -   -   a. Time of beginning of leaf bud burst.—Approximately             mid-October.         -   b. Leaf color (top side).—135B/137A.         -   c. Leaf color (under side).—145B/138D.         -   d. Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   e. Leaf shape.—Elliptic.         -   f. Leaf margins.—Entire.         -   g. Undulation of margin.—Weak.         -   h. Leaf venation.—Reticulate.         -   i. Leaf apices.—Acute.         -   j. Leaf bases.—Obtuse.         -   k. Leaf length.—66-79 mm.         -   l. Leaf width.—35-38 mm.         -   m. Leaf length/width ratio.—Medium.         -   n. Leaf nectarines.—Absent.         -   o. Pubescence of upper side.—Absent.         -   p. Pubescence of lower side.—Absent.         -   q. Cross sectional profile.—Flat.         -   r. Longitudinal profile.—Straight.         -   s. Attitude.—Semi-upright. -   Petioles:     -   -   a. Length.—4-6 mm.         -   b. Width.—1.5 mm.         -   c. Color.—Yellow-Green 144D.

FLOWERS

-   General:     -   -   a. Time of beginning of flowering.—19^(th) October.         -   b. Time of 50% anthesis.—27^(th) October.         -   c. Flower shape.—Urceolate.         -   d. Flower bud density.—Moderate to high.         -   e. Flower fragrance.—Weak. -   Corolla:     -   -   a. Color.—N/A.         -   b. Length.—11-13 mm.         -   c. Width.—5-6 mm.         -   d. Aperture width.—Approximately 5 mm.         -   e. Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.—Absent.         -   f. Corolla ridges.—Present.         -   g. Protrusion of stigma.—Absent. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   a. Length.—26 mm.         -   b. Diameter.—35-40 mm.         -   c. Length of peduncle.—N/A.         -   d. Surface texture of peduncle.—Smooth.         -   e. Color of peduncle.—Smooth.         -   f. Length of pedicel.—N/A.         -   g. Surface texture of pedicel.—5-6 mm.         -   h. Color of pedicel.—146C/144A.         -   i. Number of flowers per cluster.—Approximately 8-10.         -   j. Flower cluster density.—Moderate. -   Calyx (with sepals):     -   -   a. Diameter.—6-7 mm.         -   b. Color (sepals).—176C/145B. -   Stamen:     -   -   a. Length.—7-8 mm.         -   b. Number per flower.—Approximately 10.         -   c. Filament color.—145D/142C.         -   d. Style length.—8-9 mm.         -   e. Color.—N144A/C. -   Style:     -   -   a. Length.—8-9 mm.         -   b. Color.—N144A/C. -   Pistil:     -   -   a. Length.—11-12 mm.         -   b. Ovary color (exterior).—144A/135B. -   Anther:     -   -   a. Length.—4-5 mm.         -   b. Number.—Approximately 10.         -   c. Color.—165B. -   Pollen:     -   -   a. Abundance.—N/A.         -   b. Color.—N/A.         -   c. Self-compatibility.—Yes (100%).

FRUIT

-   General:     -   -   a. Time of fruit ripening.—Very late.         -   b. Time of 50% maturity.—Late February.         -   c. Fruit development period.—Approximately 90-100 days.         -   d. Cluster density.—24 berries per cluster.         -   e. Unripe fruit color.—N144D.         -   f. Ripe berry color.—203C.         -   g. Berry surface wax abundance.—Moderate.         -   h. Berry flesh color.—145D.         -   i. Berry weight.—1.5-2.5 g.         -   j. Berry height from calyx to scar.—12-15 mm.         -   k. Berry diameter.—18-20 mm.         -   l. Berry shape.—Oblate.         -   m. Fruit stem scar.—Small, dry.         -   n. Sweetness when ripe.—Medium.         -   o. Firmness when ripe.—Firm.         -   p. Acidity when ripe.—Low to medium.         -   q. Storage quality.—Good.         -   r. Suitability for mechanical harvesting.—N/A.         -   s. Self-fruitfulness.—Yes.         -   t. Uses.—Fresh fruit.

SEED

-   a. General:     -   -   a. Seed abundance in fruit.—Moderate.         -   b. Seed color.—167A/164A.         -   c. Seed dry weight.—N/A.         -   d. Seed length.—1 mm.

COMPARISON BETWEEN COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Ridley 0808’ ‘MG07876- ‘Brigitta’ (not (U.S. Application Organ Context 15-003’ patented) No. 15/998, 158) Plant Vigor Strong Medium Strong Plant Growth habit Semi-upright Upright Upright One-year-old shoot Color Green Green Green One-year-old shoot Length of internode Medium Medium Medium to long Leaf Length Long Long Medium to long Leaf Width Broad Broad Broad Leaf Shape Elliptic Elliptic Elliptic Leaf Color of upper side Green Green Green Leaf Intensity of green color Light-medium Medium Medium on upper side (varieties with green leaf color only) Leaf Margin Entire Serrate Entire Flower bud Anthocyanin coloration Medium-strong Medium-strong Medium Flower Shape of corolla Urceolate Urceolate Urceolate Flower Size of corolla tube Medium Medium Medium Flower Anthocyanin coloration Absent or very Absent or very Absent or very of corolla tube weak weak weak Flower Ridges on corolla tube Present Present Present Fruit cluster Density Dense Medium-dense Medium Unripe fruit Intensity of green color Light-medium Light Light Fruit Size Large Medium Medium to large Fruit Shape in longitudinal Oblate Oblate Oblate section Fruit Attitude of sepals Erect Erect Erect Fruit Diameter of calyx basin Small-medium Small-medium Large to very large Fruit Depth of calyx basin Medium-deep Deep Deep Fruit Intensity of bloom Medium Medium Strong Fruit Color of skin Dark blue Dark blue Dark blue Fruit Firmness Firm Medium Very firm Fruit Sweetness Medium-high Low-medium Very high Fruit Acidity Low-medium Low-medium Medium to high Time of Vegetative bud burst Late Medium Medium to late Time of Beginning of flowering Late Medium Medium to late Time of Beginning of fruit Very late Medium Medium to late ripening 

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘MG07876-15-003’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 